Frequently asked questions

Call, text or email me and I'll arrange a free initial call. You can ask any questions you have, and I'll ask a few to check I'm a good fit for you. If I'm not, I'll refer you on where needed.

No. You can contact me directly.

Usually within one to two weeks of getting in touch.

We go through the counselling contract and complete a short initial assessment questionnaire. It won't take up the whole session. We'll also set goals for counselling, so we both know what you'd like to work towards.

This is the question people ask most often. I'll work with you to understand yourself better and find out together what will help most. The free initial call is the best place to find out. You can see the kinds of things people come to me with on the counselling page.

On the free call I'd ask what you're hoping to gain, to see whether counselling suits that goal. You're not tied into anything: you can try one session and not come back. Some therapists suit some people better than others, so don't feel bad if I'm not the right fit.

Most of what we discuss is confidential. I would break confidentiality only if there was a risk of you harming yourself, someone else being harmed, or a serious crime being committed. I'd talk to you first and ideally get your consent, although depending on what's disclosed, consent may not always be needed. We'll go through this together in your first session.

That's fine. We can work out together what would be most helpful, sometimes using questionnaires.

Tears are so welcome in the therapy room. Finding things too difficult to talk about is welcome too, and will be treated with real gentleness and sensitivity. Being vulnerable is hard, and for some people it takes time. Coming to counselling is a brave step. There will never be any pressure to talk about things you don't want to.

Six sessions is usually a good start, and sometimes that's all people need. You can continue beyond six if you need and want to. I'll check in regularly that counselling is helping, and you're free to end at any point. For EMDR, a single traumatic event can take around eight sessions, but this is decided case by case.

They're very similar. My degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy means I can also work as a psychotherapist, on deeper-rooted, long-standing difficulties. Counselling typically focuses more on the present.

Counselling is talk therapy. EMDR is a structured therapy that helps the brain process traumatic or difficult memories that still affect you today. Talk therapy is usually the starting point, and EMDR is considered when talking hasn't brought the resolution you want. There's more on the EMDR page.

My clinic is at 1 Hillmans Court, Hillmans Way, off the Ballycastle Road in Coleraine (BT52 2DF). There's free parking, and the room is on the ground floor with no steps. Clients come from Coleraine, Ballymoney, Portrush, Portstewart and Garvagh.

Yes. I see clients from all over the UK by video call (WhatsApp or Teams) or by telephone. Online and phone sessions cost the same as in person.

In my experience, yes. It largely depends on what you prefer, and I offer the same online as I do in person. EMDR works online too.

A 50-minute counselling session is £45. An EMDR session is 1 hour 15 minutes and costs £55. The initial call is free, and concession rates can be applied for.

No, health insurance isn't accepted, and I can't take referrals through your employer.

Please give 24 hours' notice where possible. I only charge for non-attendance or cancelling without good reason.

No, I work Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm.

No, I work with adults aged 18 and over. I'm happy to refer you on.

No, I don't currently offer couples counselling. I do work with individuals on relationship difficulties.